Chapter 8: The Abandoned Son of the Family

He cast a meaningful glance at Su Qingwan, but she sat calmly and composed. "Father, there is no such thing as a wall without cracks. Once Li Xueying leaves the Lu family, what she says or does will be beyond control. If any rumors or gossip truly spread, you won't be able to contain them either."

Lu Shaoqing understood Su Qingwan's implication. Li Xueying was hot-tempered and volatile; if she lost her composure and spoke recklessly, she might drag the Lu family down with her. The best outcome now was for Li Xueying to remain in the Lu family and give birth to the child. Once a woman had a child, she would inevitably act with the child's interests in mind.

"Xie Zhaolan, what a vicious mind you have! Are you trying to force me to stay in the Lu family?" Li Xueying was furious.

Su Qingwan smiled. "Didn't you use every means possible just to marry Lu Feng? Now that you've had your wish, what else are you dissatisfied with?"

Li Xueying admitted it quite bluntly. "Yes, I am pregnant, so what? Even if it gets out and my reputation is ruined, Lu Feng fathered a child with me during his wife's mourning period—whose reputation will suffer more? If your Lu family dares to leak this, and my reputation is ruined, then we shall perish together. Who is afraid of whom? I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the Earl's mansion; my father and mother will naturally stand up for me. Don't you dare think you can use this to manipulate me!"

The Lu family fell into a silence. Zhang Momo’s expression was also uneasy; the young lady was being foolish. Even if she liked Lu Feng, she shouldn't have engaged in illicit relations with him before marriage.

Li Xueying strode away, with Zhang Momo and her maidservants following closely behind, their faces panicked. Lu Feng chased after her but was blocked by the maidservants. Lu Shaoqing was also anxious and wanted to send men to stop Li Xueying, but due to his status, he dared not.

Su Qingwan chuckled and said, "Father, Mother, do not panic. She will come back."

"How do you know?" Lin Shi’s tone was somewhat sharp. If it weren't for Xie Zhaolan returning home, this matter would never have blown up like this, and Li Xueying's pregnancy would have been kept hidden. Lin Shi could not help but feel displeased.

Su Qingwan said, "The Earl's mansion has six daughters waiting to be married, and the Third Miss Li is already betrothed to the Prince of Jing. If Li Xueying's reputation is ruined, that marriage will also be destroyed. How could the Earl's mansion afford such a risk?"

Zhang Shi raised an eyebrow. "Zhaolan has been away from home for a year, yet I didn't expect you to be so well-informed about affairs in the capital."

Su Qingwan smiled. "Since Li Xueying wanted to marry into the Lu family and replace my position, my people naturally investigated thoroughly, so I inevitably learned a thing or two."

The others said nothing more.

Lu Feng chased Li Xueying outside, pleading repeatedly, but Li Xueying turned a deaf ear. A carriage was parked at the Lu family entrance. Li Xueying quickly boarded it, and her personal guards blocked Lu Feng.

Zhang Momo signaled, and the guards moved further away from the carriage, unable to hear the conversation inside.

Inside the carriage, the Countess was waiting for her, asking anxiously, "Are you truly pregnant?"

The Countess doted on her eldest daughter, Li Xueying, most of all, treating her like the apple of her eye. She had protected and pampered her since childhood, not caring even when she grew up to be arrogant and domineering. Hearing that her daughter had been humiliated, she couldn't bear it and came to pick her up personally. She didn't want to step into the Lu family to avoid gossip. Zhang Momo had already sent word about the pregnancy, and the Countess was sweating with anxiety.

Li Xueying threw herself into the Countess's arms and wept bitterly. "Mother, the Lu family is bullying me. That Xie Zhaolan died long ago; how could she have come back to life? It must be a conspiracy, I..."

"Xueying, are you really pregnant?" the Countess asked urgently.

Li Xueying wiped her tears, looking dazed. Her face flushed and then turned pale. She gritted her teeth and nodded. "It has been over a month..."

The Countess was furious and raised her hand to strike, but her heart ached too much, and her eyes turned red with anxiety. "You... you foolish girl! Mother hired famous teachers to teach you to read, write, and understand reason since you were young; how could you commit such a scandalous act? Being pregnant before marriage, and with Lu Feng still in his wife's mourning period—if this gets out, I fear your father will have you drowned in the pond!"

"Mother, it’s all Xie Zhaolan's fault. This is a conspiracy. My marriage to Lu Feng was a settled matter; even with the pregnancy, it could have been hidden, and no one could have criticized it. If it weren't for Xie Zhaolan suddenly returning, how could it have come to this? It’s all her fault." Li Xueying was terrified at the mention of being drowned. "Father loves me so much, he won't blame me."

The Countess regretted spoiling Li Xueying to the point of such naivety. "Mother chose so many good matches for you—well-matched in status and of noble character—but you wanted none of them, insisting on marrying Lu Feng. Now it has caused such a stir, and the Earl's mansion has lost all face. Fortunately, it could have been considered a mistaken marriage, and we could have just brought you back and found another match. But you are pregnant. Xueying, you cannot return to the Li family."

"Mother, what are you saying?" Li Xueying couldn't believe it.

"Paper cannot wrap up fire. As long as the slightest wind of your pregnancy leaks, it will affect all the daughters of the Li family. Those who are betrothed will have their engagements broken, and those who aren't will find it hard to marry. Your sisters in the house will only hate you to the core. The Third Miss is betrothed to the Prince of Jing; we cannot afford any mistakes. We cannot take any risks."

"Mother, if the Lu family dares to spread it, their reputation will be ruined too. I'll just get rid of the child, and this will be over."

"Lu Shaoqing is only a fifth-rank official, and even if Lu Jing is an attendant to the Emperor, so what? They are merely a branch of the Lu clan, very distant in blood, with shallow foundations and low sunk costs. How can they be compared to the Li family? Your father will not take this risk. The only way now is for you to stay in the Lu family and give birth to the child; then this matter will be completely buried." The Countess analyzed the pros and cons for her.

Li Xueying cried, "Mother, are you abandoning me?"

She had been the most pampered eldest daughter of the Li family; was she now to become a discarded pawn?

"You are the apple of Mother's eye; how could I abandon you? The Lu family won't dare to mistreat you. Even if the Xie woman has an imperial decree, so what? It is easy for a woman to die in a deep, walled courtyard. Once she is dead, the imperial favor remains with the Lu family, and you will be the only eldest daughter-in-law. Your mother-in-law is a shrewd woman; she will know what to do. You just need to be patient."

"A 'flat wife' is still a concubine. What will others think of our Li family?"

"The Xie woman has an imperial decree backing her; what can you do?" the Countess said. "Restrain your temper, take good care of your health, and give birth to the child safely. Mother promises you that before the child is born, the Xie woman will be in the underworld, and your child will be the only legitimate heir."

Li Xueying was still crying. The Countess felt both annoyed and heartbroken, and couldn't help but lecture her, "Xueying, it is not easy for a woman to live in a deep, walled courtyard, but it is simple to die. Xie Zhaolan is merely the daughter of a merchant; even with an imperial decree, she cannot stir up waves. We will temporarily avoid her edge and not clash with her head-on. Once the storm passes, she will get what's coming to her."

Li Xueying didn't take any of it in. She had never suffered such grievances in her life. "When all is said and done, I have still become a discarded pawn. You find me shameful. Mother, I don't want to be a 'flat wife.' I want to kill Xie Zhaolan and have Lu Feng marry me properly once more."

"Stop this nonsense and listen to Mother's advice. This is the best way for now. If I take you back today and word leaks out later, Mother truly won't be able to protect you!" The Countess had to harden her heart. "Think it over carefully."